The Opelousas courier., 1887-12-24
Mamma p she exclaimed.

s#E%4@lE&Z% #3 &%4%z&4&
prise you and dear Harold.
And she gave Sophie a succession o.
kisses, which were very strongly favored
with rose-powder, and beckoned the
cab-man to bring in the trunks.
-Four = said she.n aAnd a bonnet.
box, and an umbrella-strap, and two
travelling bags. / believe that is all.
Ny daring sophicl And the doctor
says country air is the very thing | need
to set me up.
Mrs. Peregrine Percy was one Of those
old-young ladies who remind one forci-
LILY of an ants4Re- piece of furniture
vanished up to look like new. Sophie
Garland had never been in sympathy
with her fashionable mother. She had
married decidedly in opposition to that
lady's wishes, and wa, to tell the truth,
rot especially pleased at her appearance
on the scene at this particular moment.
But what am Ito do,n she said to
herself. II certainly can't turn her
out Of doors, though I'm sure ] don't
know what Harry will say after all
those disagr eeabIe things I said about
his mother.
But Harry Garland was too much Of a
a gentleman not to behave courteously
under any circumstance. He welcomed
Mrs. Percy with genuine hospitality,
and did not even notice Sophie's APP
pealing glances when the old lady incl
dentally Let fall the information that,
since she liked the situation of Glover
dale Cottage SO well, she should perhaps
remain there all the summer, t.just to
keep Sophie company you know"
1T is so good of Harry not to fling
back my own silly words into my face"
she thought with a thrill of gratitude.
But at the cad of a week Mrs. PEREZ
grine Percy sickened.
II hope it's not going to be anything
serious said she. Sickness does age
a person SO. I never had any wrinkles,
you know, dear, before that last attack
of neuralgia
But when it transpired that Mrs.
Percy's ailment was a severe and con-
tagious form of disease, there was a
general commotion at Cloverdale Cot
tage. The servants gave warning, the
neighbors kept away and poor Sophie
was weary, worn out with nursing and
fatigue, when one day a gentle little
woman in black presented herself.
ssShe will see you, ma'am,', said the
little charity girl who alone could be in
duced to cross the infected threshold,
and who loudly declared that Eat the
asylum she had everything, and wasn't
afraid Of nothingr' 81 told her to go
away, but it was no good
Sophie, pale and haggard, srept down
into the darkened drawing-roAsm.
Il don't know who you %gSre,p said
she, Tor what your business Isl but you
had better go away. There III terrible
sickness here. =
Il know it, answered q mifs voice,
land that is the very reason fEst / am
here. am Harry's mother, darling: 3
have cometo help YOUR
So, like d ministeTing angel, the
smother-in-lawS came into the house.
just q sophis7herself succumbed to the
fell disease,4p
s. No soopsr did Mrs. Peregrine Percy
Recover than she packed her trunks
and made off for Brighton as fast as
possikzs
One always needs change after i'll
ness, : said she. And the atmosphere
Of 9 sick-room always was most depress-
ing for me. dare say that tie go6d
Mrs. Garland will do all that is necessary
for dear Sophie, and I have my own,
welfste to think 81.
Sophie, Just able to sit up in q pillowed
armchair, her cheeks followed By i'll
ness, her large eyes shining from deep,
purple circles, looked after the depart
ing outrage, and then lifted her glance
to the tender nurse beside her.
Mother, Y she said, wistfuIly, you
will not leave me
Not unless you send mo away,
SOPHIE said Mrs. Garland, tenaerIy.
And that WILDE never. SAID Sophie,
closing her eyes with sigh Of relief.
How very good you have been ID mel
Without ron / should surely have
died.
And even IN her altllnher she could
not rest peacefully Until she held Mrs.
Garlandss hand Ii hers.
That evening, when Harry came home,
she opened her heart to him.
Harry, !, she said, I 4 gou ever Tor
give mean
Forgive von, dearest
For What said about i dear, dear
mother & IferventIy uttered Sophie. She
IS precious beyond expression 70 me- now.
She has saved nv life by her courage
md devotion. Ard ! feel that i canaot
part with her any more Would she
star hete with u always. 10 you think,
Harry